Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income or Loss - Unaudited - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenues and other income:
Sale of real estate and water assets	$ 82,870	$ 55,063	$ 151,193	$ 98,673
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated affiliate		(20,696)		(20,696)
Other income, net	839	741	1,554	2,454
Total revenues and other income	83,709	35,108	152,747	80,431
Cost of sales and expenses:
Cost of real estate and water assets sold	66,614	45,608	123,180	81,940
General, administrative, and other	12,445	12,294	24,770	23,490
Sales and marketing	4,668	3,258	9,097	8,555
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets	2,397	274	2,397	1,363
Depreciation and amortization	378	505	891	996
Total cost of sales and expenses	86,502	61,939	160,335	116,344
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates	(2,793)	(26,831)	(7,588)	(35,913)
Benefit (provision) for federal and state income taxes	124	2,731	(34)	2,970
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate		(998)		(1,481)
Loss from continuing operations	(2,669)	(25,098)	(7,622)	(34,424)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(44)	(8,813)	(84)	(19,295)
Loss on sale of discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(10)	(16,903)	(1,859)	(16,903)
Net loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(54)	(25,716)	(1,943)	(36,198)
Net loss	(2,723)	(50,814)	(9,565)	(70,622)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(675)	1,044	(634)	4,027
Net loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	(3,398)	(49,770)	(10,199)	(66,595)
Other comprehensive loss:
Net loss	(2,723)	(50,814)	(9,565)	(70,622)
Unrealized gain on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	489	334	529	283
Foreign currency translation	18	(46)	27	(37)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	507	288	556	246
Comprehensive loss	(2,216)	(50,526)	(9,009)	(70,376)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(675)	1,044	(634)	4,027
Comprehensive loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ (2,891)	$ (49,482)	$ (9,643)	$ (66,349)
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted ($ per share)
Loss from continuing operations	$ (0.15)	$ (1.08)	$ (0.36)	$ (1.40)
Loss from discontinued agribusiness operations		(1.09)	(0.08)	(1.50)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted	$ (0.15)	$ (2.17)	$ (0.44)	$ (2.90)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted (number of shares)	23,040	23,009	23,039	23,007